Machine for inserting shell corks in bottles.



E. HORN & E. SHERMAN. MACHINE FOR INSERTING SHELL OORKS INBOTTLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1913.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

INVEN'IORS.

ATTORNEY.

THE NC' IS PETERS 30.. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. C.

E. HORN & E. SHERMAN.

MACHINE FOR INSERTING SHELL OOEKS IN BOTTLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1913.

1,125,326. Patented Jan.l9,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO..PHOT0-L1THO, WASHINGTON, L1 1 E. HORN & E. SHERMAN. MACHINE FOR INSERTING SHELL OORKS IN BOTTLES. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 17, 1913.

1, 125,326. Patented. Jan. 19, 1915.

3 $HEETSSHEET 3.

A TTOA THE NORRIS PETERS (70., PHOTO LI7HO.. WASHING row.

iiiu'rnn STATES PATENT oimicn.

ELI HORN AND ELMORE SHERMAN, OF LOUISVILE, KENTUCKY.

MACHINE FOB INSERTING SHELL OORKS IN BOTTLES.

Application filed November 17, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ELI HORN and ELMORE SHERMAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Machine for Inserting Shell Corks in Bottles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for inserting shell corks in bottles, and an object is to provide means that will automatically arrange the corks and deliver them to inserting means, in proper position for insertion.

With the foregoing, and other objects in View, our invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter referred to, and more specifically pointed out in the claims appended hereunto.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of our invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts in the different views, Figure 1, is a front elevation of our machine, with parts broken away and some omitted to better show the construction. Fig. 2, is a side elevation, parts being broken away. Fig. 3, is a rear eleva tion. Fig. 4:, is a transverse section through the hopper on the line 00 of Fig. 3. Fig.

,5, 1s a perspective of the shell cork used.

Fig. 6, is a perspective of the cork-holder.

Referring more specifically to the drawings 1 designates a frame comprising legs 2 and a top 3-; on the top are disposed longitudinal guide strips 4.. Vertical standards 5 are mounted to slide in bearings 6--, secured on the .side of the frame. The standards 5 may be raised and lowered by use of a hand lever 7, secured on a shaft 8, through the medium of arms -9- and links -10. Near the upper ends of the standards a transverse bar '11 is adjustably secured and serves to rigidly connect the standards. A plurality of plungers 12 are positioned on the bar 11, the lower end of each plunger 1 is provided with a teat -13, the purpose of which will be made evident hereinafter; the lower end of the plunger above the teat 13, is provided with a section 14 of a suitable cushioning material, such as leather, rubber or other substance of yielding nature, to prevent the chipping of the mouths of bottles should the plunger contact Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 191.5.

Serial No. 801,469.

therewith. A sliding bearing -15 is mounted on each of the standards 5, and upheld in a given position thereon by set collars 16-. A cross-bar 17, preferably angular in cross section, is secured by suitable means to the bearings 15, rigidly connecting them; and so positioned, slightly in advance of the standards, that cork-holders 18 mounted thereon will have their axes in alinement with those of the plungers 12. The cork'holders 18 each comprise a cylindrical body, the bore of which will permit the passage of a cork, and a radial boss -20 projecting from the lower section having a stem 21 extending in a prolongation of its axis. The upper section is divided longitudinally, one half -22 being integral with the lower section, and the other half 22 hinged at .23, to the integral portion, forming what may be termed a lid. A spring 24- coiled around the pintle of the hinge serves to hold the lid normally closed. From the upper member of the lid an arm -25 extends, on the end of which is a roller 26 A shield 27 extends tangently from the side opposite the hinges and away from the lid. On the lower end of the body portion is a cone-shaped hood 28. The cork-holders are mounted on the crossbar 17 by passing the stems 21 through the bearings 29 thereon, the face of the boss 20 bearing against the face of the bearing, the cork-holders being held in place by means of arms 30 secured on the end of the stem. The arms 30 are secured on the stems in such relationship to the cork-holders that the arms are at an angle of to the right of the vertical when the cork-holders are in a horizontal position (the position in which corks are received). The arms 30 are connected by a rod 31-, that in turn is connected by a link 32 with an arm 33 pivoted on a bracket 34 depending from the crossbar 17. On the arm 33 is a roller 35- that engages in a cam-slide 3(i, attached to and extending up from the frame 1. The arrangement being such that as the standards, and associated elements, descend the roller 35 will enter the cam-slide and shift the arm 33 and connected arms 30 to the left far enough to turn the cork-holders to a vertical position. A hopper 39 is supported in the rear of and elevated above the cross-bar by means of braces 40, 4:1'.

The hopper is provided a plurality of being arranged therebelow at an angle that will allow the corks to roll down freely by gravity, the chutes terminating at a point' to deposit corks in the cork-holders 18. The length of the exit is sufficient to accommodate several corks, the width however is but slightly greater than the length of the cork,

the arrangement being such that corks can only pass through when the ends thereof lie in vertical planes parallel with the sides of the exits. The front and side walls of the compartments are plane surfaces, but the rear wall is curved forward, with the convex surface within the compartment, in order to provide room for an agitator shaft 4 6- that is journaled in the end walls 17 of the hopper. On the shaft 46 are a plurality of hubs i8-, disposed inalinement with the eXits, a plurality of fingers i9-- project from each of the hubs and pass upward through the exits as the shaft is turned, slots 50, 51 in the bottom of the chute and in the rear wall of the hopper, respectively, provided for the passage of the fingers. On the outer end of the shaft 46 is a disk -5Q havinga plurality of pins -53 projecting from the face thereof. A vertical stem 54., attached to the frame at 55, carries at the top thereof a plate 56 that lies between the disk 52 and the end 47 of the hopper, the plate is provided with a vertical slot 57 that embraces the shaft 46, allowing vertical movement of the shaft therein and holding the plate 56 in vertical alinement. v

Arranged on the face ofthe plate are oppositely disposed pawls-58, 59-, the arrangement being such that as'the hopper descends a pin on the disk will engage with the-pawl 58, and the disk, with associated members, will receive a quarter turn, and as the. hopper returns, another pin will engage the pawl 59 and the disk will receive another quarter turn, in the same direction.

In operating the machine a quantity of shell corks are dumped in the hopper, and as they fall to the bottom thereof some will be in position to pass through the exits 43, and roll down the chutes, others will fall across the exits (as shownin Fig. 3) obstructing it. A forward movement of the operating lever 7 will cause a finger 49 to pass upward through each exit (as previously explained) raising the obstructing corks and allowing them to fall back, when some may pass through the exitand others againobstruct it, as .the lever is raised the corks will again be raised from off the exit, and. as they fall back some will pass through while. others will fall across it. It will be observed that this agitation of the corks occurs twice each time the hopper is raised and lowered. By manipulating the lever 7 a few times the chutes may be filled with corks, bottles may then be placed in position and corking commenced. If the parts are in the upper, or normal position of rest, the first cork that rolls down thechute will fall into the cork-holder 18, the receiving chamber of which lies open just at the end of the chute, succeeding corks will accumulate in the chute. Bottles that are to be corked are placed on the table between the guide strips 4, with their mouths in approximate alinement with the plungers 12. 7 is then manipulated to lower the standards and associated elements, as the cross-bar 17 descends the roller 35 enters the cam slide 36 shifting the cork-holders, and contained corks, to a vertical position in which the corks are delivered to the bottles, as the cork holders assume a vertical position the outlet of the chutes are closed by the shields 27, preventing the escape of corks therefrom. The cross bar descends until the hoods encounter and center the bottles, it then rests on the bottles, its travel being intercepted thereby. The continued downward movement of the standards brings the plunger-s into contact with the corks, in the holders, forcing them therethrough into the bottles, the teats 13 on the plungers enter the bore of the corks before the body of the plunger encounters the end of the cork and applies .pressure thereto, this prevents splitting of the corks. As the lever 7 is raised, the plungers are withdrawn from the cork-holders, the roller 35 enters the cam-slide 36, return The lever ing the cork-holders to a horizontal position.

As the cork-holders return to the horizontal position the rollers 26 strike a cam projection 61, on the cross-bar 17, raising the lids 22.

It is thought that the many advantages of a corking machine constructed in accordance with the foregoingv description can be readily understood, and it will furtheremore be evident that changes, variations, and modifications canbe resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and we therefore do not wish to restrict ourselves to the details of construction hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings, but reserve the right to make such changes, variations, and modifications as come properly within the scope of the protection prayed. I

Having thus described our invention so that any one skilled in the art pertaining thereto may make and use the same we claim Y v 1. In a machine of character described, an oscillatory holder for corks adapted, in a horizontal position, to receive corks and in a vertical position to discharge them, means for feeding corks to said holder and means for turning said holder from one position to the other. i

2. In a machine of the character described, a stand, movable standards thereon, upper and lower cross-bars on said standards, said upper cross-bar being rigidly attached to said standards, said lower crossbar movable relative to said standards, plunger-s mounted on said upper cross-bar, a hopper carried by-the lower cross-bar, cork holders mounted on the lower cross-bar, chutes leading from the hopper to the corkholders, said cork-holders adapted, in one position to receive corks, and to be shifted i into another position to allow the corks to be discharged.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of upper and lower crossbars, plungers mounted on the upper crossbar, hoppers carried by the lower crossbar, oscillating cork-holders mounted on the lower cross-bar and adapted when in a horizontal position to receive corks, and means to turn said holders into a vertical position to bring the corks to a point beneath the plungers.

4. In a machine of the class described, a stand, movable standards thereon, a plurality of plungers carried thereby, a cross-bar mounted on said standards and movable relative thereto, a hopper carried by said crossbar, said hopper provided with exits that permit the passage of corks only when the ends of the corks lie in vertical planes parallel with the sides of the exits, corkcarriers mounted on said cross-bar and adapted to receive corks when in a horizontal position, means for turning said carriers to a vertical position to bring the corks under the plungers, and means for holding the corks in said carrier.

5. In a machine of the class described, a stand, movable standards thereon, a plurality of plungers carried by said standards, a cross-bar mounted on said standards and movable relative thereto, a hopper carried by said cross-bar, cork-carriers mounted on said cross-bar, exits in said hopper, chutes leading from the exits to the cork-carriers, closures for said carriers adapted to be opened as said carriers assume a position to receive corks, means to close said closures as the carriers leave said position, means for moving said carriers to bring the corks under the plungers.

6. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a stand, standards mounted on and movable relative thereto, a cross-bar mounted on said standards and movable relative thereto, a hopper carried by said crossbar, said hopper having a plurality of compartments each having inclined walls and an exit in the bottom thereof, means for agitating corks in said hopper, chutes leading from the exits, cork-carriers mounted on said bar in a position normally to receive corks from said chutes, means for shifting said carriers, and means associated with said carriers for closing the outlets from the chutes.

7. In a machine of the character described, an oscillatory cork carrier, a closure on the side thereof, means for operating said closure, and means for oscillating said carrier.

8. In a machine of the character described, a stand, movable standards carried thereby, a cross-bar mounted on said standards, cork-carriers mounted on said crossbar, closures for said carriers, means associated with said bar for operating said cl0s ures, and means associated with said stand for shifting the position of the carriers.

9. In a machine of the character described, a stand, movable standards carried thereby, upper and lower cross-bars, a plurality of plungers carried by the upper bar, said lower bar movable relative to said standards, a hopper carried by the lower bar, said hopper having exits in the bottom thereof, chutes leading from said exits, said exits adapted to permit the passage of corks only in a position to roll down said chutes, cork-carriers mounted on said lower bar, closures for said carriers, means for opening said closures as the carriers assume a position to receive corks from the chutes, means associated with the stand to shift the carriers to bring the corks under the plungers.

10. In a machine of the character described, an oscillatory cork-carrier, a lid hinged on the side thereof, means tending normally to close said lid, means for openi'ng said lid as the carrier assumes a recipient position, and means for oscillating the carrier.

11. In a machine of the character described, an oscillatorv corkcarrier, means for delivering corks thereto when the same is in a horizontal position, means for turning said carrier into a vertical position. and means for discharging corks therefrom while in said vertical position.

12. In a machine of the class described, in combination, bottle-supporting means, standards movable relative thereto, a crossbar slidably mounted on said standards and adapted to travel therewith until arrested by contacting with bottles carried bv said support, cork-carriers mounted on said bar, means for feeding corks to said carriers, plunger-s rigidly connected with said standards and adapted to enter said carriers and force corks therefrom into the bottles.

13. In a machine of the class described, in combination, bottle-supporting means,

standards movable relative to said support ing means, cork-carriers mounted on said bar, means for supplying corks to said carriers, means for turning said carriers from a receiving to a delivering position, said crossbar adapted to travel with said standards until arrested by the carriers contacting with bottles carried by said supporting means, a bar rigidly attached to said standards, plungers depending from said rigidbar and adapted to enter said carriers and drive corks therefrom.

14. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a stand, movable standards carried thereby, a cross-bar slidably mounted on said standards, hoppers carried by said bar, a shaft mounted below said hoppers, fingers extended from said shaft into the hoppers, a disk onthe end of the shaft, pins projecting from the face of said disk, a vertical stem extended up from the stand, a plate on the upper end of the stem, and pawls on said plate adapted to engage With said pins and turn the shaft.

15. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a stand, movable standards carried thereby, a cross-bar slidably mounted on said standards, transverse bearings on said bar, tubular cork-carriers, radial stems on said carriers extended through said bearings, crank-arms on the ends of said stems, a rod connecting said crank-arms, and

Copies of this patent may 'be obtained for means extended up from the stand to engage and shift SMCII'OCI to turn sa1d carriers.

16. In a machine of the class described,

a stand, standards movably mounted thereon, a cross-bar slidably mounted on said ings, lids on the sides ofsaid carriers,

springs adapted to close said lids, cam projections on the bar adapted to open said lids as the carriers assume a horizontal position to receive corks.

17. In a machine of the class described, a stand, movable standards thereon, a lower cross-bar slidably mounted onsaid standards, an upper cross-bar rigidly mounted on the standards, cork-handling means carried by said lower bar, plungers carried by said upper bar, reduced axial extensions on said plungers, and cushion members on the ends of said plungers above said extensions.

ELI I-IORY ELMORE SHERMAN.

\Vitnesses:

W. B. MUNNELL, J. H. BRADY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

